National: America’s Election Officials Fight Disinformation and Death Threats Ahead of 2024 | Allison Mollenkamp/Just Security
Election administrators in the United States, including Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections in North Carolina, are facing unprecedented challenges, including death threats, harassment, and a barrage of public records requests, as they prepare for the 2024 elections. The threats are linked to the persistent disinformation surrounding the 2020 election, and administrators are also grappling with legal changes to voting systems, loss of institutional knowledge due to staff turnover, and the need to educate voters about evolving election rules. Efforts to counter disinformation include engaging with the public through various channels, but the increasing demands and hostile environment are taking a toll on election officials, leading to high turnover rates and concerns about the upcoming elections. Read ArticleNational: Ignoring questions about election problems will fuel doubts and baseless allegations | Jessica Huseman/Votebeat
The aftermath of the 2023 Election Day has seen increased scrutiny and baseless allegations of fraud, with figures like Abe Hamadeh, a Republican candidate in Arizona, tweeting about errors in Pennsylvania and elsewhere to support claims of mass fraud and errors. There's a growing spotlight on county election administration, exemplified by incidents like widespread ballot-printing errors in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The responses to such errors vary, with Northampton County responding promptly and providing clarifications, while Hinds County, Mississippi, faced ballot shortages and offered inadequate explanations. Read ArticleNational: Voting companies go to court over 2020 election claims as Trump returns to the ballot | Jane C. Timm/NBC
Voting machine companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic are set to return to court in 2024, filing separate lawsuits alleging defamation against Fox News, Newsmax, Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. The litigation could involve depositions or testimony from former Trump aides and allies, reveal new evidence about false claims of election rigging, and remind voters of Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The trials, including Dominion's case against Fox News and Newsmax, and Smartmatic's case against Lindell and Newsmax, are scheduled for 2024, potentially affecting the election season. Read ArticleElection Night Hand Counts: Realities and Risks | Verified Voting
A new report published by Verified Voting examines misguided proposals to eliminate all vote counting machines and move to hand counting all ballots on election night that would have far reaching implications for our trust in our elections. Elections are a combination of people, processes, and technology. Human oversight of election processes is integral to ensuring that voting technology works correctly and that votes are counted as cast. “Hand to eye” examination of ballots in audits and recounts are quality control checks that carefully and transparently assess that voting technology got the election outcome right—or correct the outcome if it did not—and give voters justified confidence in election outcomes. But that best practice does not translate to humans hand counting millions of votes on election night. The paper examines the risks of full election night hand counts, explains when hand counts should be used, and emphasizes why common-sense best practices that employ voting machines and post-election audits make our election outcomes verifiable and resilient. Read Report
National: In face of threats, election workers say: ‘You are not disrupting the democratic process’ | Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline
Local election workers across the nation are facing increased threats and intimidation, with lies about rigged elections and the 2020 presidential outcome fueling conspiracy theories. In response to these ongoing threats, state lawmakers in several states, including Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, have enacted new protections for election workers and increased penalties for those who harass or threaten them. However, the exodus of election officials due to safety concerns raises concerns about the potential for errors and increased vulnerability to conspiracy theories. Read Article
National: Ballot shortages are rare in U.S. elections, but here’s why they sometimes happen | Ashley Lopez/NPR
Ballot shortages at some polling locations in Mississippi, along with instances in Ohio and Texas, underscore the challenge election officials face in determining the number of ballots needed. In Mississippi, a surge in voter turnout caught officials unprepared, resulting in shortages, long lines, and some individuals walking away. Determining how many ballots to print is described as an "inexact science," involving estimates based on past turnout. The costs of mistakes can be high, with states like Mississippi having laws about the minimum number of ballots to print, leading to potential waste. The absence of early voting or no-excuse absentee voting in some states complicates the task, emphasizing the importance of accurate planning to safeguard election integrity. Read ArticleNational: How election officials are planning to avoid a repeat of 2020’s slow vote count | Zach Montellaro/Politico
In preparation for the 2024 elections, several battleground states in the United States are taking measures to speed up the counting of votes to avoid the prolonged uncertainty experienced in 2020. New laws and procedures aim to facilitate quicker counting and processing, minimizing the time between polls closing and unofficial results being announced. States are allowing more pre-processing of mail ballots before Election Day, enhancing efficiency and expediting the release of results. While some states have made significant changes to improve the speed of ballot counting, others, such as Pennsylvania, still face challenges and partisan disputes. The goal is to reduce the period of uncertainty, limiting the potential for misinformation and false claims about the election outcome. Read ArticleNational: Federal government stops helping Big Tech spot foreign meddling amid GOP legal threats | Naomi Nix and Cat Zakrzewski/The Washington Post
The U.S. government has ceased notifying social networks, including Meta, about foreign disinformation campaigns on their platforms, disrupting a longstanding practice aimed at preventing interference in American politics. This change, attributed to a conservative legal campaign challenging initiatives established after the 2016 election, involves a reduction in communications about global influence campaigns. The shift is linked to a July ruling limiting the Biden administration's communications with tech platforms in response to a lawsuit, Missouri v. Biden, which alleges that coordination violates the First Amendment. The legal uncertainty is causing foreign policy officials to hesitate in their communications with tech companies. Read ArticleNational: Ahead of 2024 election, Meta worries about lack of information on top-tier nation-state covert operations | AJ Vicens/CyberScoop
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has warned that foreign governments, particularly Russia, Iran and China, are likely to continue running inauthentic messaging campaigns via fake social media accounts leading up to elections worldwide in 2024. In a new report, Meta officials expressed concern that the U.S. government has stopped proactively sharing information with the company and other social networking platforms, which has been a crucial source of information about major, nation-state influence operations in the past. Meta's report also highlighted its efforts to combat inauthentic accounts and campaigns, pointing out that it had identified and neutralized three covert influence campaigns in the third quarter, two from China and one from Russia. Read ArticleNational: Misinformation, cybersecurity among top issues ahead of 2024 elections | Chris Teale/Route Fifty
As the U.S. prepares for the 2024 elections, state and local officials are on alert for potential threats posed by cyberattacks and artificial intelligence (AI) in the wake of incidents during the 2022 midterms. The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website experienced a denial-of-service attack, and AI-generated content, including deepfakes, has become a concern. Efforts to regulate AI in political advertisements are underway, with lawmakers introducing legislation to require disclosures. The Department of Homeland Security expects cybercriminals to exploit networks and data used by political parties and election officials, emphasizing the need for increased cybersecurity funding for state and local governments. The public's concerns about disinformation, deepfakes, and AI are reflected in surveys, with calls for action to protect voters and regulate AI-generated content. State and local officials are encouraged to enhance cybersecurity practices and training to mitigate potential threats. Read ArticleNational: Election officials fear 2024 threats are escalating after series of suspicious envelopes | Zach Montellaro/Politico
Election officials across the United States are on high alert after receiving suspicious letters containing what the FBI says may be fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Offices in at least five states—California, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington—received these letters, raising concerns among election workers already facing threats and harassment since the 2020 elections. The FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service issued a briefing document, describing the letters as a potential domestic terrorist event. The envelopes, appearing ordinary, had "Attn Ballots" typed on the front. Election officials fear that the threats, fueled by conspiracy theories, will escalate as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The letters have already caused disruptions in some areas, with delays in ballot counting reported in Washington state. Election officials are working to ensure the safety of their workers and to intercept any additional letters. Read ArticleNational: How the ‘Big Lie’ Was Born Inside Fox News | Brian Stelter/Politico
In the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, urged then-President Donald Trump to accept defeat. In an editorial titled "President Trump, your legacy is secure — stop the ‘stolen election’ rhetoric," published in the New York Post, Murdoch and his son Lachlan advised Trump on handling the loss with dignity and urged him to abandon baseless conspiracy theories. However, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo defied this guidance during her show, "Sunday Morning Futures," by featuring guest Sidney Powell, who propagated unfounded claims of a coordinated effort to steal the election. Bartiromo's source for these claims was an email from a Trump supporter with bizarre and baseless assertions. Despite attempts to intervene and correct the misinformation, Fox News continued to host guests spreading false narratives about the election, contributing to the persistence of the "Big Lie" that the election was stolen. The consequences of this misinformation are ongoing, with lawsuits and trials involving Fox News and key figures expected to extend into the Lachlan Murdoch era. Read ArticleNational: Facebook, Instagram will allow political ads that claim the 2020 election was stolen | Clare Duffy/CNN
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will permit political ads on its platforms to challenge the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election, part of a broader rollback in election-related content moderation by major social media platforms. This policy change allows Meta to profit from political ads spreading false claims about the legitimacy of the 2020 election while prohibiting ads that question the legitimacy of an upcoming or ongoing election. The move is part of a year-old policy update that has not been widely reported. Meta's broader electoral misinformation policy still prohibits content that may interfere with people's ability to participate in voting or the census. This shift in handling election advertisements and misinformation comes amid increased pressure on tech companies to combat election misinformation, particularly following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol fueled by baseless claims about election fraud. Read ArticleNational: Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating | Christina A. Cassidy, Ed Komenda and Gene Johnson/Associated Press
Authorities are investigating the sending of suspicious letters, some containing fentanyl, to elections offices in at least five states, including Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington. The letters, some intercepted before delivery, delayed ballot counting in local races. Four of the letters contained the powerful opioid fentanyl. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are treating the incidents as acts of domestic terrorism and working to intercept additional letters. The letters, featuring various symbols and messages, raise concerns about the safety of election workers and underscore the ongoing threats faced by election officials across the country. Read ArticleNational: One year out: how a free and fair 2024 presidential election could be under threat | Zachary Roth/News From The States
As the U.S. approaches another presidential election, concerns arise over potential threats to the electoral process. Despite arrests and convictions related to the January 6th Capitol attack, there's little indication of moderation among those who challenged the election. Former President Trump has hinted at seeking retribution if reinstated, an election denier now leads one House of Congress, and threats of political violence influence key voting decisions. A recent poll reveals that 3 out of 4 respondents believe American democracy is at risk, with nearly a quarter suggesting violence might be necessary to safeguard the nation. Experts emphasize the need to assess vulnerabilities and reinforce the electoral system against potential subversion, chaos, voter suppression, and administrative challenges. Read ArticleNational: Why countering false election claims may be harder in 2024 | Shannon Bond and Miles Parks/NPR
Election officials and experts express concerns over the growing pressure from the political right, led by figures like former President Donald Trump and GOP Congressman Jim Jordan, that has framed efforts to combat election misinformation as censorship. A campaign of legal and political pressure has led to the scaling back or dismantling of tools and partnerships designed to address falsehoods, even as foreign threats and concerns about misinformation persist. Instances like the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board and a lawsuit alleging collusion between the Biden administration and social media companies have contributed to a chilling effect on efforts to combat election-related rumors and conspiracy theories. This pressure has also affected social media platforms' willingness to police false claims and misinformation, raising concerns about the ability to counter election-related falsehoods effectively. Read ArticleNational: Microsoft, Meta detail plans to fight election disinformation in 2024 | Brandon Vigliarolo/The Register
Microsoft and Meta have unveiled initiatives to address misinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, although the effectiveness of these strategies remains uncertain. Microsoft's five-step election protection plan, set to be implemented in several countries with critical elections in 2024, includes a Content Credentials service for digital watermarking of images and videos to verify authenticity. However, concerns exist regarding its recognition in Chrome and other web browsers and the potential for metadata tampering. Microsoft also plans to offer advisory services to political campaigns on handling AI and cyber influence, establish an Election Communications Hub, and support legislative changes against harmful uses of technology like the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, introduced in the US Senate in September. Meta, on the other hand, is focusing on ad transparency, requiring disclosure for digitally manipulated or altered content in social, electoral, or political ads, aiming to combat misinformation disseminated through ads. This change will be implemented globally in 2024. Read Article